diary of a romantica, vol. II special edition: lovers remembered

by Celia Martínez, Martin Martinez (Illustrator)

We present the debut poetry (e)book from the viral social media phenom, Celia (ceis) Martínez AKA diaryofaromantica (on Instagram) and powerhouseofthecel (on TikTok). From the head and heart of the hopeful romantica Yale alumna, "diary of a romantica, vol. II" brings to life part two of the poetic journey of falling in love.

Genres: Poetry, Romance, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published July 23, 2023

Reviews

[Ellaryn Kraak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want this imprinted on my soul and tattooed on my skin. I could be satisfied reading nothing but Celia’s writing for the rest of my life. This speaks to me in such beautiful ways, and it makes me want to weep for the hope it gives me. I’ve never read anything that’s better captured the feeling of love.

[Chaimae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit tumblr-y but oh so very adorable!!!!

[Cassidy Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t help but binge read these poetic books at once

[Chiquikieta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You missed a spot"
"Oh god, how bad did I fail"
"Well if this was Gilmore girls,
you're Rory and she just dropped out of Yale"

iconisch

Ik moet weer meer poëzie gaan lezen, of weer meer gaan lezen überhaupt

[eileen ♡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this strengthened my belief in love

[Gwen Gillham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The impact of this probably depends when you read it. But for me, right now, this was just so lovely 🥹

[Maud · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5✨

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For all my hopeless romantics
Romance definitely isn’t dead”

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing poetry read. Celia Martínez is one of my all time favorite poets!!

[MacKenzie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite quotes:

“There’s different ways to say ‘I love you’
of course there’s the common three words
warning: when said can make butterflies arise
as beautiful as springtime hummingbirds

There’s the subtle ‘I love you’
it makes sure that you get home
it’s the key that lets you in
carefully hidden under a garden gnome

There’s the chaotic ‘I love you’
exclaimed after one too many drinks
it doesn’t exactly say it but
‘Honestly any party with you stinks’

There’s the warm ‘I love you’
it holds you when you cry
It heats up the leftovers
serves extra ice cream with your pie

There’s the peaceful ‘I love you’
it’s the breathing change when you sleep
how it’s the first time they’re comfortable
and you have to look away to not weep

There the overwhelming ‘I love you’
‘I miss you when you’re gone’
it terrifies you to feel like this
because what if you have to move on

But then there’s the lasting ‘I love you’
it builds a home in your heart
and even when you’re not together
you could never be apart”

[Maddie Weiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her words are so beautifully crafted and thoughts curated.
If you have seen any of her spoken poetry videos, and then read these in the book, it is as if she is just there reading them to you. Her voice is clear as day and she just punctures the truth about love and romance so genuinely.

Volume 1 and 2 don’t have to be read in the right order, but I think it’s helpful if they are so you can better understand her story and see how her writing matures.

These poems are her thoughts but also the thoughts of everyone, and her ability to do that is unparalleled.

[emma g. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That's what makes life worth living I thought
the way the sun shines on the trees
nothing really matters then
when we are engulfed by the warm breeze

That's what makes life worth living I thought
when your hand subconsciously slipped into mine
nothing really matters then
when we've got a love that surpasses time

Laying in a garden
reading your favorite book
baking way too many sweets
and trying out a new look

Turning up the radio
watching a new leaf grow
laughter and tears and excitement
making angels in the snow"

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celia Martínez be hitting the emotions hard once again. Incredibly beautiful and hopeful. I will be returning to these poems many more times. I will also be immediately snatching up anymore poetry books Martínez releases in the future.

[Twitchmatic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection inspires me to be a hopeful romantic.

So many smiles, laughs, yearnings, hopes, dreams, and icons of little moments that one day will be time/date stamps in the story.

A delight to read and spark hope.

[ibana 💌 · Rating 5 out of 5]

if i had to explain the way i feel about love and the way i WANT to be loved, i would definitely just read out loud my favorite poems from this book. i cried and felt so much, i never thought my feelings could be described to perfection. thank you celia <3

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Vol. 1 was a 4.5 that I rounded down, this one is more like a 3.5 that I'm rounding up. Although it was interesting just how different the artwork and illustrations were in this one.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her writing so much 🫶🏽

[Merna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If all poetry was written like this, I’d be in heaven.

[clara (taylor’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love ceis poetry

[Hollie Betts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some beautiful poems, however some felt out of place with the style of it all.

[Julia-Paz Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s love

I hope she publishes another book soon. One with her sadder stuff from the internet. Remember to read the poems out loud. They sound better that way.

[Idaris Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good for a hopeless romantica like yo.

[Katy Kunkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like her poetry a lot. Most of it is very relatable. I just feel sometimes like the poems and rhymes are redundant.

[Cathy Huang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Celia's Instagram and I recognized some of the poems from the reels I saw. As a long time follower, I had high expectations for the book. But the poems lacked texture and sophistication - the writing simply wasn't that good.

[Maria Driakhlova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore how Celia sees this world, how detailed and beautiful she can describe her feelings that everyone can relate to. I enjoyed so much reading every page of this diary and going through every emotion and moment together with Celia.
My most beloved poem from the book became "You know who I want to be?"

[Dainelis Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for the romanticas at heart. I resonated with the poems Celia wrote and appreciated the Spanish poems which made them more impactful.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐ "Celia Martinez's 'Diary of a Romantica, Vol. II: Lovers Remembered' is an exquisite sequel to an already remarkable collection, and I wholeheartedly award it a deserving 5 stars!

⭐ As a continuation of 'Diary of a Romantica, Vol. I: Lovers Forgotten,' this collection of poems carries on the lyrical journey through the depths of human emotions and relationships. Martinez's poetic verses are a testament to the enduring power of love, desire, and the intricacies of the heart.

⭐ This volume, like its predecessor, retains the heartfelt essence of a diary filled with raw and unfiltered emotions, all artfully expressed through the medium of poetry. Martinez's gift for storytelling in verse is once again evident, drawing you in and making you an intimate witness to the loves and memories of the author.

⭐ What makes this collection particularly special is its ability to transcend conventional storytelling. In poetic form, it explores the psyche, capturing the nuances of their desires and the resonance of their memories. As a reader, you'll find yourself deeply connected to their experiences, forming a profound empathic bond.

⭐ This poetic journey doesn't just recount love stories; it delves into the complexities of human connection, the warmth of cherished memories, and the beauty of love remembered. It's a collection that will inspire you to reflect on your own romantic experiences and the enduring impact of love.

[Hans Manganti · Rating 5 out of 5]

If volume I stemmed from the thoughts of a hopeless romantic, volume II serves as the inversion of this, the anthology of a hopeFUL romantic. I am just as enamored with Celia's writing in this installment as the last, but the core of this work boils down to something even more human.

The incredible detail into sentiment makes each poem rather complex. Celia portrays how even being in a stable relationship is often not sufficient to overcome one's own faults and insecurities; even so, she manages to paint love as it should be, wherein it comes not in spite of these shortcomings but in light of them. The overarching themes of implicit affection and "love in the little things" still hold true into this piece.

Overall, her diary is just as romantic and warm as you'd expect it to be (if not more), but you can tell it now comes from a place of confidence, security, and health. A number of excerpts had me reeling in this book, and I would love to read it again.

[J's Reading Journal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Celia doesn’t disappoint. I’m not the biggest poetry person and it’s usually not something I gravitate towards but there has yet to be a poem written by her that I haven’t been left in awe by. I was so excited to grab this copy when it was finally released as a paperback and ordered it right away. I loved this book just as much as I loved her first. This book wasn’t as emotional (as in sad) as volume I was, although it was still equally as enjoyable (almost more hopeful). If you’re not sure whether you want to give this book a read, I would suggest scrolling through her Instagram page where she reads her poems aloud. Fair warning: her poems are so beautifully read that you might just end up scrolling through her page for a few hours without realizing.

[Celine Arienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I love Celia’s poetry, it makes me feel. So much. It’s incredible.

“true love is often searched for
but rarely ever found”

“but oh my darling. yes it does! […] we look for it in others
but you need to find it inside you”

“because I can still remember
the way he looked into my eyes”